Empoli 0-2 Inter: D'Ambrosio and Dimarco strike as Nerazzurri return to form

Danilo D'Ambrosio and Federico Dimarco were on target as Inter returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over 10-man Empoli on Wednesday.

Simone Inzaghi's side had stuttered in Serie A in recent weeks, losing to Lazio and drawing with Juventus before this trip to Empoli.

However, D'Ambrosio broke the deadlock in the first half, scoring in a seventh consecutive top-flight campaign, and Samuele Ricci's dismissal for a reckless challenge after the break eased Inter's task.

Dimarco capitalised to make sure of the points and consolidate the Nerazzurri's third-place position.

Petar Stojanovic's speculative long-range effort had brought the first save of the contest from Samir Handanovic, before Dimarco tried his luck from a similar distance and was denied by Guglielmo Vicario.

The Empoli goalkeeper was powerless 11 minutes before the break, when D'Ambrosio headed into the bottom-left corner following Alexis Sanchez's dinked pass.

Nicolo Barella almost doubled Inter's lead on the stroke of half-time but blasted against the woodwork, before Ricci received a straight red card for a dangerous sliding challenge on the Nerazzurri midfielder after the interval.

Roberto Gagliardini then headed onto the left-hand post and Martinez was denied by a wonderful Vicario stop, either side of Sanchez's close-range finish being chalked off for offside.

Dimarco eventually added a second in the 66th minute, tapping in Martinez's low cross at the back post, although the visitors could have won by more, with two more goals ruled out. Gagliardini was penalised for handball and Stefano Sensi was flagged in the closing stages.

What does it mean? Inter back in form

This was a return to form for Inter, although they often deliver against Empoli, who they have now kept an away clean sheet against in their past seven league meetings – their longest run against a single opponent in the competition and tied for the best streak for any one side against another.

Inter have also won eight in a row in the league against Empoli – the hosts' joint-worst run against a single team.

Inzaghi's men, who are seven points off the summit, will hope to be similarly comfortable going forward against more testing opponents, having disappointed against Lazio and Juventus.

Brilliant Bastoni

Inter's attackers may take the credit for an efficient away performance, but Alessandro Bastoni was key in a defence that has looked timid in recent weeks.

The centre-back made a game-high 73 successful passes, succeeded in six of his eight duels and produced a team-leading six clearances.

Cutrone crumbles

Patrick Cutrone scored his first Serie A goal since July 2020 with a strike against Salernitana but disappointed against Inter's three-man defence, now without a goal or an assist in seven meetings with the Nerazzurri.

The former Milan striker completed just two passes before his 67th-minute removal, enduring a frustrating in which he was afforded only nine touches while winning a meagre third of his duels.

Key Opta Facts

– Empoli have lost five of their first six home games in a single Serie A campaign for the first time in their history.
– Since 2012-13, only three defenders have scored more than 10 headers in Serie A: D'Ambrosio, Stefan de Vrij and Gonzalo Rodriguez (11 each).
– Inter have scored the most headers in Serie A this season (eight).
– Sanchez has been directly involved in 21 goals in his 23 Serie A starts with Inter in Serie A (nine goals and 12 assists).
– Barella was making his 100th appearance with Inter in all competitions, while De Vrij made his 100th start for the club in Serie A.

What's next?

Inter host Udinese on Sunday, while Empoli travel to face Sassuolo on the same day.